P26-27 Emergency Lighting:Layout 1 22/07/2021 11:54 Page 27 EmergencyLighting
Emergency evacuation lighting can be subdivided into three areas: l Escape route lighting l Open area lighting l High-risk task area lighting
Designed to provide illumination for the safety of people leaving a location, escape route lighting needs to keep a route sufficiently lit, whereas open area lighting (sometimes referred to as ‘anti-panic lighting’) lights up spaces to allow occupants to both see and head to evacuation routes. High risk task lighting is designed to allow those involved in a potentially dangerous process or situation and to follow shut down procedures for the safety of. the operator and other occupants of the premises.
In terms of the luminaires themselves, bulkheads, downlights, twin spot lights and exit signs are most commonly used in emergencies to light these different spaces.
The choice between using bulkheads, downlights and twin spot lights is very much dependent on the size and use of the space and its aesthetic. Downlights and twin spots for example are much more discreet in their appearance and more commonly found in hospitality venues whereas bulkheads have more of an industrial feel. Illuminated exit signs are usually installed above head height on walls or suspended from ceilings to light escape routes and feature a running white man on a green background. Once installed, it is critical that emergency lighting is regularly tested to make sure it works. To test an emergency lighting system, a mains power failure must be replicated which in turn should trigger the emergency lighting system to operate via its power supply. This test can be carried out manually or automatically.
If a manual test is carried out, once all lighting circuits and luminaires have been isolated, a tester should pass through the whole building or circuit, checking that each emergency luminaire is operating correctly. The mains supply is then restored and the whole building or circuit must be walked again to check that the emergency lights have returned to being operational.
To make this easier, there are a variety of self-test lighting systems available which allow for much speedier and more cost-effective maintenance. Ansell’s self-test range for example is ultra-convenient. When the unit is first installed the fitting is programmed to randomly select a test date of between 200 and 365 days. Once this date is set it will continue to test at the same time every year for a full three-hour test. Every 30 days the installation will also be automatically tested for ten minutes. A small LED button on the fitting will illuminate to show either regular function or that a fault has occurred.
Emergency lighting in the UK plays an essential role in health and safety measures and is a legal requirement in all public and commercial buildings, as well as high occupancy residential buildings. It forms part of the fire safety provision of a building and is a requirement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, The Health and Safety at Work Act, Building Regulations, The EU Workplace Directive and the Fire Safety Regulations. Given the legal requirements and codes of practice in place for emergency lighting, when embarking on the installation of emergency lighting it is important that installers consult the architect, designer and fire risk assessor for the building, who can provide definitive advice as to where the escape lighting is required and create a marked-up layout showing the areas to be covered. This should include the type of lighting and its power supply, the mode of operation and the duration of emergency lighting to be provided in an emergency situation.
The consequences for business owners and responsible persons who fail to comply with fire safety legislation and emergency lighting rules can be very serious. Ultimately, a fire can have tragic consequences if occupants cannot safely escape with owners and those in positions of responsibility being liable to prosecution. Unfortunately, a lack of sufficient emergency lighting remains a regular cause of health and safety cases coming before the courts and a guilty verdict can result in hefty fines or building owners and landlords facing imprisonment.
This legislation means that emergency lighting is an area of opportunity for a wholesaler who can advise installers and provide the right combination of products and solutions.
ewnews.co.uk August 2021 electrical wholesaler | 27
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